Short radiation plus chemo before surgery may boost rectal cancer survival
NCT ID NCT01558921
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 3 trial compares two treatment approaches for high-risk rectal cancer. The experimental group gets a short course of radiation (5 days) followed by several months of chemotherapy before surgery. The standard group receives longer chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery and optional chemo after. The goal is to see if giving chemo earlier, when patients are stronger, can reduce cancer recurrence and improve survival. About 920 participants are enrolled.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- short-course radiation (5x5 Gy) followed by capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) chemotherapy
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could improve survival for people with high-risk rectal cancer by delivering chemotherapy before surgery, when patients are healthier.
- What could go wrong
- This is a large phase 3 trial, but results are not yet final. The experimental treatment may not improve outcomes over standard care, and chemotherapy side effects can be significant.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Aalborg Universitetshospital
Aalborg, Denmark
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Akademiska Sjukhuset
Uppsala, Sweden
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Alrijne Ziekenhuis
Leiderdorp, Netherlands
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Amphia Ziekenhuis
Breda, Netherlands
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Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Amsterdam UMC, location VUMC
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Antonius Ziekenhuis
Sneek, Netherlands
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Bronovo Ziekenhuis
The Hague, Netherlands
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Catharina ZIekenhuis
Eindhoven, Netherlands
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Centrallasarett
Västerås, Sweden
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Centrallasarettet Växjö
Vaxjo, Sweden
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Centralsjukhuset i Karlstad
Karlstad, Sweden
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Consorcio Hospital General Universitario Valencia
Valencia, Spain
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Deventer Hospital
Deventer, Netherlands
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Diakonessenhuis
Utrecht, Netherlands
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Falu Lasarett
Falun, Sweden
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Gävle sjukhus
Gävle, Sweden
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HaGaZiekenhuis
The Hague, Netherlands
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Het Groene Hart Ziekenhuis
Gouda, Netherlands
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Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia
Valencia, Spain
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Hospital Universitari i Politècnic la Fe
Valencia, Spain
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Hospital Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona, Spain
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ICO Hospital Duran I Reynals
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
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Institute of Oncology
Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Isala Klinieken
Zwolle, Netherlands
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Kalmar Hospital
Kalmar, Sweden
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Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset
Stockholm, Sweden
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Leiden University Medical Center
Leiden, Netherlands
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Linköpings Universitet
Linköping, Sweden
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Martini Ziekenhuis
Groningen, Netherlands
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Medisch Centrum Haaglanden
The Hague, Netherlands
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Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden, Netherlands
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Mälarsjukhuset
Eskilstuna, Sweden
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Nki / Avl
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep
Alkmaar, Netherlands
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Norrlands Universitetssjukhus
Umeå, Sweden
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Odense Universitetshospital
Odense, Denmark
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Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Oslo Universitetssykehus
Oslo, Norway
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Radiotherapeutisch Instituut Friesland
Leeuwarden, Netherlands
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Reinier de Graaf Groep
Delft, Netherlands
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Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset
Gothenburg, Sweden
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Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University Medical School
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
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Skaraborgs Sjukhus
Skövde, Sweden
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Spaarne Ziekenhuis
Hoofddorp, Netherlands
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Sundsvalls Sjukhus
Sundsvall, Sweden
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Södra Älvsborgs Sjukhus
Borås, Sweden
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Sørlandet Sykehus Kristiansand
Kristiansand, Norway
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UMC Nijmegen St Radboud
Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
Groningen, Netherlands
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Universitetssjukhuset i Lund
Lund, Sweden
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Universitetssjukhuset ÖREBRO
Örebro, Sweden
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University Medical Center Groningen
Groningen, PO BOX 30001, 9700 RB, Netherlands
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Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis
Assen, Netherlands
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Ziekenhuisgroep Twente
Hengelo, Netherlands
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de Tjongerschans
Heerenveen, Netherlands
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- A new radiation combo may spare the rectum in early cancer